Bengals Shock NFL: Add Noah Fant to Already Stacked Receiving Arsenal

Fant, a former first-round pick by Denver in 2019, joins the Bengals with a strong shot at surpassing Gesicki for the TE1 spot. He is two years younger than Gesicki and presents greater athleticism and versatility with the ball in his hands.

Last season, Fant enjoyed one of his better years with the Seahawks, posting 500 yards on 48 receptions with one touchdown. His production has not seen a major leap beyond his two 670+ yard seasons with the Broncos in 2020-21, so he was cut by Seattle in a cap-saving move. Seattle had also drafted tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the NFL Draft to be his predecessor.

The 6-4, 250-pounder joins a Bengals tight end room with strong top-end potential. Gesicki was the team's third-leading receiver with 665 yards in 2024. Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample fill out the rest of the room and Fant takes the place of former fourth-round rookie Erick All Jr. on the depth chart, who is on the PUP list following a torn ACL in October - his second straight knee surgery in as many years. The team has waived tight end Kole Taylor to make room for the signing.

"He gives you even more flexibility," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Thursday after Fant had worked out in Cincinnati. "You've got a player that's really a plus player in both the run and the pass.

"So, at the point of the attack, backside blocking and protection can help you, but also really explosive as a receiver. ... Great size, great explosiveness, really good hands, tough to bring down. I think that's another weapon."